Column clamp



Oct. 21, 1930. M. A. EKLOF COLUMN CLAMP Filed May 22, 1928 l 'QL-MPatented Oct. 21, 1930 Unirse ASTATESI MAX ANDERS VEK'LOE, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS COLUMN CLAMP Application :ned May 22, 192s. serial No. marce.

My invention relates in general to column clamps and has more particularreference to an improved clamp for concrete columns which has cert-ainfeatures of novelty and advantage which will hereinafter more fullyappear.

One of the objects ot my invention is to provide a column clamp whichmay be quiclily and easily assembled in clamping position about acolumn, which may be economically manufactured, which will firmly holdlthe sides of the column in position and which will not slip when beingdetached.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a column clamp ofnovel design and arrangement wherein the parts are arranged to allowoeasy assembly no matter how much concrete may vhave fallen and hardenedupon the members forming the clamp.

' Numerous other objects and 'advantages will be apparent as myinvention 'is more fully understood from the following descriptionwhich, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses apreferred embodiment.

Referring to the dra-wings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvedcolumn clamp` asassembled around a column form;

Figure 2 is a side view ofa member, a plurality of which are adapted toform the improved column clamp ot my invention;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the parts illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating a manl ofV my column ner in whichtne members clamp may be slotted; Y 4 Y Figure 5 isa plane viewillustrating another manner in which the members ot' my column may beslotted;

Figure 6 is a side View of one end of a modified bar, a plurality ofwhich are adapted to form my improved column clamp, showing the relativeposition of adjacent bars ol the column clamp whil being assembled; and

Figure 7 is a similar view illustrating the relative position of twoadjacent bars,when in "0 assembled position.

To illustrate my invention I have Vshown en the drawings a column clampconsisting ofjfour bars 11, rigid and preferably formed of some durablemetal such as steelorwrought iron. Each bar is provided at one end withan open loop 13 which is formed by bending up the end of the bar so thatthe endportions 15 extend parallel and in spaced relationship with thebody of the bar. In the body of each bar, extending trom the straightend 60 to adjacent the bent end I form a plurality ofrelatively longslots or apertures 17 which in the illustrated embodiment are formed intwo rows, the slots of one row being staggered with respect to the slotsin the other row. These slots are adapted to accommodate wedges 19formed of strips orn steel or similar material and which are adapted tobe driven into the slots behind the outer edge of the adjacent bar, whenthe clamp is in assembled position as shown in Figure 1, in order totighten the clamp about the column to which it is applied. The slottedbars and wedges are described in detail in my co-pending applicationSerial-No. 187,201 tiled the 28th day of April, 1927, Vnow Patent No.1,674,280, J une 9, i928.

As illustrated in Figure l, my column clamp is adapted to be applied 'toa rectangular form for a concrete column. `The form illustratedcomprises a plurality of boards 21 arranged to form a rectangular hollowtube into which the concrete may be poured, and the column clamp isarranged about this form by placing a bar 11 transversely across eachside ot the rectangular form, and arranging the looped end of each barin embracing relationshipwith the slotted portions of the adjacent bar,the slotted end of the adjacent bar extending outwardly beyond the outeredge of the loop end. In order to tight'- en the clamp upon the form,the wedges 19 vare driven into the slotsv adjacent the outer edge oitthe bar which results in the looped end of each bar being forced axiallyalong the slotted body of the adjacent bar about which i it is looped,and inwardly against the sides of the form, the staggered arrangement ofthe slots 17 permitting two wedges to be used alternately to tighten theclamp members to any desired position within the range of the slottedport-ion oi' the body ot the bars. T he bars are made ot' substantiallywide stock so that the base of the loop which engages the outer edge ofthe adjacent bar will have an aligning eii'ect upon the adjacentembraced bar.

il. hand screw i3 is arranged in the bent end ponion l5 oi each bar i erclamping member in position to engage the body ot the embraced bar whenthe latter is arranged within the loop. This construction is illustratedclearly in Figure 2.

lVhen all the pressure bars are located in flamping position about thecolumn term, the hand screws on all the bars may be tightened. ITheprovision of th se manually operable handscrews is particularly adaptedto prevent accidents when the column clamp is being removed fromclamping position after it has served its purpose. Alfter the form hasbeen iilled with concrete and the concrete has hardened, it is necessaryto strip ottn the column clamp and 'form therefrom. This is alone byknocking out the wedges 19. The workman assigned to strip the columnclamps from a. iinished column, when removing the higher clamps, usuallystands upon the projecting ends ot the bars ot a lower clamp andsupports himself, while knocking out the '-weclges, by holding on to theprojecting ends ot the bars of the clamp being removed. There isconsiderable pressure outwardly upon the bars of the column clamps alterthe concrete has been poured and it frequently happens that when thewedges are knocked out ot' the slots, the looped end of a bar will beforced outwardly by this pressure, and will push the worltmans hand fromthe projecting end to which he is clinging, or will crush his hand. Thisis particularly dangerous where the work is being done at considerableheights for the workman may easily lose his balance and tall to theground. In the past, this circumstance has led to a large number ofaccidents. By providing the hand screws or clamps 23 the danger of thissudden movement ot the bars upon the removal of the wedges isconsiderably reduced if not ebviated entirely. During the pouring0peration considerable quantities ol' cement tall upon the 'uppersurface of the bars and hardens there. This deposit, together with theclamping action ot the hand screws, prevents any sudden movement oit thebars upon the removal of the wedges.

For iarge columns I contemplate the use of a. modified form ot loopedend as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. in thismodification the end of each bar is arranged in the torm et a closedloop which is formed by bendinor the end of the loop downwardly andthence rearwardly parallel with the body of the bar to form a portion 25spaced from the body of the bar a distance slightly greater than thethickness of the slotted portion of the adjacent bar. From the end ofthe portion 25 the side ot the loop is oil-set downwardly as at 2 andthence forwardly to provide a portion 29 parallel to and spaced trom thebody ot the bar a distance equal to substantially twice the thickness ofthe slotted portion ot the adjacent bar. Thereafter the side of the loopis oit-set inwardly as at 3l and finally extends in engagingrelationship with the body ci the bar aeing secured thereto at 33.

his construction provides a loop havin# a wide portion 35, a narrowportion 37 and the otllset portion Q7 which provides a shoulder 39 for apurpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

For columns of medium size, the looped construction shown in Figure 2 isdeemed adequate both for the purpose of aligning the pressure bars andfor the prever. n of accidents and also to enable operators usthis formof clamp to work more rajriidlj.,v in has been possible with columnclamps heretofore provided. lt is apparent that the mouth or opening ofthe open loop is termed corsiderably larger than the width ot the bodyof the adjacent bar embraced by the loop. lt will be understood,therefore7 that the body otn the adjacent bar may be arranged in theloop quickly and easily in spite ot whatever concrete may have been de'-posited upon this bar. For larger columns it is desirable to utilize aclosed loop in order to take advantage oiI the iit...ascd strengthinherent in this type of loop. ln the embodiment illustrated in FiguresG and 7 the wider portion 35 of the loop' is adapted to receive the endoi the adjacent bar with sutlicient tolerance to providPA for any cementlil which may have been deposited thereon. The end of the adjacent baris thus slid longitudinally into the wider portion of the loop asillustrated in Figure (i andl is then slid laterally into the narrow y f37 et the loop illustrated iu Fig ure :,the shoulder 39 operating,during such lateral movementT to strip off the cement deposit from thelower side ot the bar in order to permit the same to snugly engage ftthe portion 37. Since the ow portion 37 snuglj.'v embraces the bod;v ofthe adjacent bar arranged therein. it will be apparent that when thewedges 19 are removed from the slots in stripping off the column clamp,that this snugness of fit together with whatever cement mav have beendeposited upon the the body ot the bar ad jacent the loop, will preventthe sudden displacement ot the parts and will hence prevent theconsequent danger, by way of accidents, to the workman.

lt is thought that my invention and its numerous advantages fill beapparent from the foregoinfT description, and it evident lli thatnumerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the various parts without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention or sacriicing any of its material advantages, the forms hereindescribed being merely preferred embodiments of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire toVsecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a column clamp comprising a pluralityof slotted bars each having a looped end adapted to embrace the slottedportion of an adjacent bar, wedges adapted to seat in the slots tosecure the adjacent bars in engaged position about a column, and meansincluding a widened portion of said loop and a portion adapted toclosely engage the body of the adjacent bar whereby to temporarilysecure the parts in relative position when the wedges are removed.

2. In a column clamp comprising a plus rality of slotted bars and wedgestor securing said bars together about a column, a looped portion forminga relatively wide portion and a relatively narrow portion formed at oneend of said bar in position to embrace the body of an adjacent bar, saidwide portions being of a size to permit the adjacent bar to be easilyslid axially into the loop notwithstanding the deposit of cement and thelike which forms on such bars when in use, and said narrow portionsbeing of a size such as to closely embrace the body of the bar so thatthe latter may be slid laterally into the narrow portion after beingarranged in the wide portion as aforesaid.

3. In a column clamp comprising a plurality of slotted bars and wedgesfor securing said bars together about a column, a looped portion forminga relatively wide portion and a relatively narrow portion formed at oneend of said bar in position to embrace the body of an adjacent bar,sai-d wide portions being of a size to permit the adjacent bar to beeasily slid axially into the loop notwithstanding the deposit of cementand the like which forms on such bars when in use, and said narrowportions being of a size such as to closely embrace the body of the barso that the latter may be slid laterally into the narrow portion afterbeing arranged in the wide portion as aforesaid, [said loop being formedwith a shoulder whereby the deposits of cement formed on the body of theadjacent bar may be scraped therefrom as the bar enters the narrowportion of the loop.

l. In a column clamp comprising a plurality of bars provided with meansformed and arranged for securing theni about a column, a looped portionformed in an end of a bar by bending the end thereof back upon itselfand securing the tree end of the bar to the body thereoi' to form aloop, `having a wide portion and a narrow portion adapted to closelyembrace the si-des of a bar arranged therein.

5. A column clamp comprising a plurality of rigid members arranged toembrace a col of substantially rigid members adapted to` embrace acolumn and having adjacent overlapping portions, one ot said overlappingportions being provided with overlapping linear slots each adapted toreceive a wedge in position to engage the adjacent overlapping portionand torce the same towards the column as the wedge is driven into theslot, said slots being arranged in spaced relationship in parallel rows,and means for temporar-ily securing said overlapping end portionswhereby to prevent relative movement between the parts when one of saidwedges is removed in stripping the column clamp.

7. A column clamp comprising a plurality ot substantially rigid membersadapted to embrace a column and having adjacent overlapping portions,one oi said overlapping portions being provided with overlapping linearslots each adapted to receive a wedge in position to engage the adjacentoverlapping portion and torce the same towards the column as the wedgeis driven into the slot, said slots being arranged in such a manner thatadjacent slots are interconnected.

S. A column clamp comprising a plurality of substantially rigid membersadapted to embrace a column and having adjacent overlapping portions,one of said overlapping portions being provided with overlapping linearslots each adapted to receive a wedge in position to engage the adjacentoverlapping portion and force the same towards the column as the wedgeis driven into the slot, successive slots being in ott-set relationshipand each slot opening at its upper end into the lower end of thesucceeding o-setslot.

9. A column clamp comprising substantially rigid members arranged toembrace a column and having adjacent overlapping end portions, one ot'said portions being provided with a plurality of elongated slotsarranged in parallel adjacent lines, the slots in one line beingstaggered with respect to the slots in the other line, the slots inadjacent lines opening into each other.

tially rigid members arranged to embrace a column and having adjacentoverlappingr end portions, one of said portions being` provided with aplurality of elongated slots arranged in parallel adjacent lines, theslots of adj acent lines being arranged in overlapping relationship, andeach slot comprising a multiple opening adapted to receive one or moreWedges in staggered relationship.

1l. In a column clamp of the class described, a plurality of rigid barsfor embracing a column, Wedges for securing said bars in embracingposition, said bars being formed at one end With a loop by bending theend thereof back upon itself and having a plurality of overlappinglinear slots for receiving said Wedges in position to engage theadjacent overlapping bar and force the same toward the column as theWedge is driven into the slots, and a hand clamp arranged in said loopfor temporarily securing the bars in embracing position when the Wedgesare removed.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MAX ANDERS EKLOF.

